Long-time ECI coach ousted

TWIN CITY -- Long-time Emanuel County football coach Isiah Andrews has been released from his contract, ECI principal David Price said Saturday.

Price said the decision was made not to renew Andrews' contract after ECI posted two-straight losing seasons. The Bulldogs were 2-8 in 2000 and 3-7 this year.

"We decided a change was needed in the program," Price said.

Andrews, who had a 107-69 record in 15 years as head coach, said he was asked to resign by Price on Nov. 20, two days before Thanksgiving.

"But I didn't do that," he said. "That's something I don't believe in. It's like quitting on the kids. I just told them to release me."

Andrews said he was "sort of surprised because of all the great years we had here. I think we had 12 seasons where we were .500 or better."

But the 48-year-old Swainsboro native admitted the Bulldogs have been in a rebuilding process the last two years.

"About every seven years we get one of those classes where we have only three or four athletes in it," he said. "That's what happened in 2000."

ECU captured the Region 4-A title in 1998 with a 12-1 record, led by quarterback Bruce Steel and running back Gary Hansom. But nine seniors graduated off that team, resulting in a 6-4 record the following year, and then 16 more graduated in 1999.

"We had seniors that started for three years," Andrews said. "That meant we had juniors who were stepping on the field for the first time. They went into this past season with just one year of experience under their belts."

Andrews, whose son Brandon was a freshman running back on the Georgia Southern team this year, said he doesn't know what his future plans are yet.

"I may go into administration," he said. "But I still want to coach. I have some opportunities. I'm just going to sit back and see what happens."

Price said he's received approximately 20 applicants for the position.

"We're in the process of looking at the applications now," he said.

Price said he plans to start interviewing candidates next week and hopes to have a new coach within the next few weeks.

Sports reporter Jim Thomas can be reached at 652-0350 or e-mailed at jimt@savannahnow.com.